Best RPG Series Of All Time

The Top Ten

1Elder Scrolls

Oblivion is not the only badass rpg. Morrowind and for hardcore gamers daggerfall are good too (I could say arena but I don't now much about it). In fact The elder scrolls aren't just good. IS THE BEST GAME SERIES EVER MADE! Elder scrolls games are the only game I can play without boring... So TES FOR EVER!

Oblivion will most likely always be my favorite RPG. The graphics, gameplay and character development combined with an environment that was as rich as it was large made Oblivion an epic RPG experience. These traits have been the hallmarks of the Elder Scrolls series and I can only hope the trend continues.

I have played and completed almost all quests on every single TES in full depth (only the games with The Elder Scrolls titles). You may be thinking I'm full of myself and have no life, but it's true, actually it's not because I barley played Skyrim. I'm a classic gamer, and get the most enjoyment in the classics, especially RPG classics.

Daggerfall is my favorite classic rpg of all time and I still play it to this day. The world is infinite and it's truly impossible to explore everything in this game. I have played so much of The Elder Scrolls: Arena and to this day I still play it. When Morrowind was released, it was the most amazing and impressive game I've ever played, but the good vibes stopped at morrowind, of course I played Oblivion and beat all the quests but Oblivion and Skyrim doesn't give the old vibes back.

I love all TES games. But if forced to pick, I would say Daggerfall.

This is how I rank them:

5. Arena ( still a pretty good game.)4. Morrowind ( again, it is a great game.)3. Oblivion.2. Skyrim.1. Daggerfall.

And I played them all and continue to do so. Even Arena. - IcetailofWishClan

Final Fantasy as a whole reshaped how RPG story telling, gameplay and presentation are created. It gave the video game industry a whole new criteria for fantasy genre based games and gave us some of the most memorable stories, characters and locations in ANY media form.

Ff7 almost 15 years after.. Still the best.. The absolut perfect music... Atmosphere... Story..

Hands down. No competition with this one, that's for sure.Great story, great game--let me short it: Great Everything. - mohit100

Final Fantasy is without a doubt THE greatest RPG franchise to ever be made. Fallout, witcher, and other rpgs are fun yes, but I feel I'm at another level of epicness when I'm playing these games.

What separates Fallout 1 & 2 from all the other so-called "RPGs" out there is that they are actual, genuine, and above all, original role-playing games. Whatever you did and said affected the outcome of a certain situation, or in some cases, even the final outcome of the game. It's a pity that Fallout 3 does not share this trait with its predecessors by being more shoot-em-up and less role-playing -oriented.

To Fallout 1 & 2, the two greatest role-playing games on Earth!

One of the greatest if not the greatest rpg of all time on the pc

You know... Characters like Harold, Tandi, and of course player character are not often seen in games. There's no better characters in any game. Must play!

Legend of Zelda is immense. No matter if you played elder scrolls or final fantasy when you grew up, it is almost impossible that you did not play at least one Zelda game whilst growing up. To top that off, the familiar characters, storyline, amazing soundtrack AND the fact that its one of Nintendo's joint three most recognisable franchises, it just can't be beaten.

Zelda series is masterpiece that was created by Nintendo.. Although there many competitors other that that series itself it still can survived till now. Since I played Zelda for the first time it feel like my life is changing it become so much better... Thanks Zelda thanks Nintendo...

The legend of Zelda I II(NES)& Link to a Past (SNES), were three of the toughest, longest, invensive, hipnotizing, adventurous and intelligent fantasy-games ever (in 2D). Then ocarina of time came, and blew everything and everyone away! - darkmatter

As said by some people, Zelda is not RPG, the franchise belongs to the genre of Action-Adventure. Watch the gameplay.

Laugh out loud, lots of childhood memories, I remember beating the elite 4 67 times on Pokemon red and still kept playing! - dragon13304

THE BIGGEST game series ever. In terms of sheer of sheer amount to do on the games. There's not many game when you can over the maximum time the game will show (999:59) and STILL not be finished.

Best RPG EVER! - Yetaxa

No matter what generation you played, you still love or loved Pokemon. It's just one of those games where, even if you don't realize it, you are always remembering the good times. When I take tests, I to the Lance battle music. When I'm happy, I hum pallet town. People aren't afraid to make references to it, because everyone knows that everyone use to play it.

Welp since UNDERTALE is not here Ill talk about pokemon. I have always been a huge fan of pokemon (I hate u charizard! ). Great story great plot. One of the best rpg's out there!

This should be on first place, along with planescape torment. Anything else is blasphemy! =P

Best RPG ever made. Graphics may not be great but the quality of the story and wide range of possibilities makes the game unique. I remember spending hours just on the character creation screen.

Baldur's Gate and all the Forgotten Realms type of games, provide a type of gameplay different than the above games. If you like a long plot full of interesting Lore, Dieties, Creatures and other such stuff you will like these games. While the graphics aren't the best in comparison to games such as Final Fantasy, its story is what matters. Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment's stories are amazing in comparison to all the stories I have played in other RPGs. Another great thing is the fact that companions have their own opinions and seem realistic unlike companions in most characters. I love that you're not forced to go on a completely set path unlike most games and that you can choose from a variety of lifestyles to live. On top of all this, Community Mods have improved upon the game making graphics better, conversations longer, and romances possible with any character. If you love story, DEFINITELY play Baldur's Gate!

This has it all, its like reading a good book or watching a great movie. If this series would be a movie it would be up there with Lord of The Rings and Star Wars without a doubt.

While following a clear storyline, this felt like one of the most personal RPGs I've ever played. Aside from that, it was able to take the turn-based method and make it exciting again for many who had never experienced the RPG genre before.

Wow really? Final Fantasy? I admit it is a really great series and indefinitely have some of the greatest games of all time but really? The minute I held my hand on KOTOR I fell in love. Truthfully of course it is not the greatest RPG series or game of all time. But for star wars fans it is. Excellent game and with Star Wars The old Republic MMORPG coming out... heaven knows. - Certise

Nothing really tops the narrative style of BioWare. Those guys know how to make unbelievable games. This one might take the cake for me because of it being such a great Star Wars game and a great RPG. I recommend this game to anyone who is considering RPGS to play and hasn't tried it yet.

Mass effect stands out because of the way it biotic charges you into its own world... Bringing you close to its characters, mass relays and individual stories. This incredible saga made me weep at its conclusion... But never fear, there's more to come!

Completed it 5 times at least and enjoyed every single play through

Hands down.. The most immersive RPG universe ever seen!

I literally wanted to cry at the end, that's just how immersive this game is!

Most people don't pay attention to KH because they think its for little kids since it has disney characters but maybe a third of the people in my school play this (im in middle school) and also it has one of the best rpg characters SORA! All my cousins play the KH series!

I think its the best pg game of all time because me personally am a disney fan and a game with pluto mickey pete daffy duck and goofy and a awesome story line 2 boot I can't wait till number 3 comes out I'm buying it the first day

I cry when I hear the music, it is just astounding I want to get the next one when it comes back.

The Contenders

11Shin Megami Tensei

Shin Megami Tensei for the win. Persona is just epic. I've played Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 and 4 and would recommend them to anyone, they even put Final Fantasy to shame in my honest opinion. Haven't played the other titles, but they aren't as popular and get lower ratings from what I've seen, so I'm happy with my Persona.

Occult themed games with mature stories.A few titles in the series are Nocturne,Devil summoner,Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2 etc

The Shin Megami Tensei series is just awesome. The mainline games have great mature storylines and a battle system equally brutal for you and your enemies and making a good party is satisfying. Persona is also fun and has great characters and sometimes pretty good stories, even more so then the main games. Everybody likes to go back to high school! Also the music in the whole entirity is awesome

The one thing that this JRPG franchise does that no other franchise is currently doing is taking innovative risks. Every game in the series is different from each other, yet so familiar. It's an experience full of variety and exploration to new ideas with each and every game Atlus produces.

Oh Paper Mario... The original as well as The Thousand Year Door captured all of us with it's unique style and great (if not hilarious) writing and story telling. Nothing beats getting completely owned by Bowser in the beginning of the game and falling from orbit, only to survive and gather your strength. Next thing you know your back up there with Bowser using every ability and every little hour you used in the game to get stronger to beat him. EPIC!

I love Paper Mario, especially the first two. The first two were original and nostalgic. Super Paper Mario technically isn't an RPG, and a lot of people hated Sticker Star. you're, it's generic, but I didn't really mind it. Though, when there's a Console and Portable game that's either a sequel or the same game, they tend to be very different. Plus, the Thousand Year Door had a lot of Super Mario RPG which gave it the nostalgic feel.

Seeing Paper Mario as number 13 almost gave me a heart attack. This is one of the best RPG series ever made, even though Super Paper Mario isn't exactly an RPG.

When I played Super Paper Mario, I was hooked! This series is just plain amazing!

Well, this game has a special spot in my heart, and will continue to do so. It's just so WEIRD, if you haven't played it, you have to. It may not be as wonderful as mother 3, but that IS my favorite rpg of all time, and I'm not lying. Definitely worth playing, no doubt.

Technically it's the Mother series but yeah, the games are great, because it is set with a storyline that could happen in real life which makes you actually feel like the character, and everything about the games are great, like the music and dialogue.

This is just the best Blizzard game ever until now. There's no way someone can't enjoy the monster-slaying it gives to you, neither the way that you can ignore or pay full attention to the story, depending on what you want from it.

I was a hardened diablo fanatic. from the first game, until the last (unless blizzard finally get off their asses and make diablo 3). for 6 n a half years straight. I loved this game. in terms of quality and enjoyment of gameplay, its the best I've ever had.

After 20 years still absolutely awesome! Now I am writing only to increase the comment quality or whatever. You should be warned that if you pirate this game, you will not be able to play multi-player, only local. That is via Hamachi and such. However, it is definitely worth buying even now!

Diablo series is a non stop, never ending, evil slaying, super loot fest, powerful feeling all the time kind of game. Hell yeah lets go to hell and beat diablos ass down! 😄

I second this. All those console games ARE NOT real RPGs. Yeah, you level-up, but that does not constitute an RPG. There are no real "choices" in games like FF.

"Unlocks the imagination... For as long as you want."

Who can't resist betrayer beauties

One of the only games (nwn1 and 2, not the nwn online...) that feels like a true table top RPG. Where even small quests speech options can have impacts on the main story line. A plus for nwn1 + hordes of the underdark. Re-playability is great due to the giganormous quality content created by the community.

As a fan of turn based games I may have a little bit of a biased opinion here but I can say I've been a dedicated Fire Emblem fan for going on three years and I will never love another game series this much. I am highly disappointed that it is just barely off from the list, come people it is amazing.

fire emblem is quite amazing. sacred stones is the best one by far. that game was infinitely entertaining. - deadgrass27

The only true epic strategy series, Fire Emblem stands out in the midst of games such as Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda for being a series that gained immense popularity worldwide with only four games released in the West.

Sacred Stones man...Rouge and Mage Knight are the two BEST CLASSESRouge is my favorite class in the whole series.Float like a butterfly sting like a bee.The sword can't hit what the eyes can't see!

Well, I'll be. Chrono Trigger is just better than anything here except for Final Fantasy, but we can debate that all day. Chrono trigger revolutionized the RPG genre, and is still known today as the greatest SNES game of all time. Then again, Cross doesn't live up the expectation in my opinion. Still, Trigger alone deserves AT LEAST Top 5. It is one of the Top Ten greatest video games of all time.

Way underrated game in my opinion. How could compare to this game's awesome gameplay, lovable characters, and amazing music? If you can find a better game than you are either insane or just stupid.

In my opinion chrono trigger is the best rpg ever made, the story is awesome, the musics are wonderful. Akira Toryama made the characters, there are several ends. This game should be more famous.

Without a doubt the best storyline EVER written for a video game (not only RPG). The literary quality here is even superior to most books and movies. The setting is fantastic, many doubted that the planescape setting would work on well on a video game, but it does. It is not so focused on fighting, like Baldur's Gate and other similar games, but some fights are truly epic given the context, they happen at the right time and the right. Too much "epicness" get's boring after a while, here the whole thing evolves on a perfect pace, alternating between slow parts and growing to reach authentic gaming climax... Just perfect, the best game EVER created, period.

This game deserves more... It's story is one of the greatest I've ever seen. That flying skull cracks me up all the time, the gloomy atmosphere is also a brilliant way to suck you in.

I don't know about the first ones, but Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time is possibly my favorite rpg of all time. Compelling story and addictive battle system, plus deep and interesting characters.

I have fond memories of playing Star Ocean 2 with my best friend in elementary school. Years later I had forgotten its name and could find it until after I had completed its sequel. Star Ocean 3 is by far the most popular in the series. It was also the game that got me hooked on JRPGs forever. I enjoyed the characters, the combat (despite the fact you can only use 3 characters at a time), the intriguing worlds and plot (including the plot twist, though I admit that triace could have made it a whole lot better).

Moving onto the series as a whole. I have yet to complete the first and second installments, but I've finished the fourth and I love the whole series. The combat is brilliant; grinding is a lot more tolerable in SO than it is in other games. Generally the characters and plot have been pretty good as well; minus 4, whose characters and voice acting seemed almost unbearable at times (e.G. edge, Lymle respectively), but even that one was still quite enjoyable overall. But ...more

Great series...i don't understand why this is not considered to be in the top ten...along with legend of dragoon both have great story lines and good gameplay to go with

This has to be without a doubt one of the best game series ever for its amount of games produced. The music is unbelievable the game play is like nothing people have ever seen before.

best serie ever! and tales of symphonia is the best of all! because you control the char when fighting. you move, dodge, attack. no stupid menu's to select you attack from. great storyline and good music. graphics are very unique it looks like its a HD drawing.

I'm always trying to find new games similar to this series. The animation, Story, Gameplay, Sound, Just everything is great. Number 1 in my opinion.